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PhD Vermeiren Lieve Compleet - Hogeschool Gent

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1.5.1.3. Carbon dioxide<br />

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is mainly produced by heterofermentative LAB from hexoses (Kandler<br />

& Weiss, 1986). Furthermore, various LAB can produce CO2 from malate and citrate<br />

(Hugenholtz, 1993) and also by metabolising arginine via the arginine deiminase pathway<br />

(Arena et al., 1999). Finally, decarboxylation of amino acids can also be a minor source of<br />

CO2 (Urbach, 1995). Carbon dioxide contributes to the antagonistic activity of LAB (De<br />

Vuyst & Vandamme, 1994a) and its inhibitory properties are due to its role in creating an<br />

anaerobic environment, its extracellular and intracellular pH-decreasing effect and specific<br />

actions on enzymes and membranes (Devlieghere, 2000).<br />

1.5.1.4. Diacetyl<br />

Diacetyl, the characteristic flavour associated with butter and cheese, is synthesised from<br />

pyruvate aerobically as well as anaerobically by citrate fermenting LAB (Hugenholtz, 1993;<br />

Liu, 2003). In the presence of citrate and a metabolisable energy source (e.g. in milk), the<br />

production of excessive amounts of pyruvate can result in the production of diacetyl and<br />

acetoin. When hexoses are the only fermentable carbon source, no diacetyl and little if any<br />

acetoin is produced. Diacetyl has antimicrobial activities but Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts<br />

and moulds are more sensitive to diacetyl than Gram-positive bacteria and usually high levels<br />

are necessary for inhibition (De Vuyst & Vandamme, 1994a). Its mode of action is believed<br />

to be due to interference with the utilisation of arginine. Diacetyl is rarely produced at<br />

sufficient levels to make a major contribution to the antimicrobial activity of LAB (Piard &<br />

Desmazeaud, 1991; De Vuyst & Vandamme, 1994a).<br />

1.5.1.5. Acetaldehyde and ethanol<br />

Acetaldehyde, responsible for the typical aroma of yoghurt, is produced during the<br />

carbohydrate metabolism of heterofermentative LAB, principally L. delbrueckii subsp.<br />

bulgaricus, and further reduced to ethanol by an alcohol dehydrogenase. When the latter<br />

enzyme is absent or repressed, it may result in the excretion of acetaldehyde. The possible<br />

antagonistic effect of acetaldehyde is poorly documented and existing data suggest that this<br />

compound plays a minor antagonistic role (Piard & Desmazeaud, 1991; De Vuyst &<br />

Vandamme, 1994a). Similarly, although ethanol may be produced by LAB, the produced<br />

levels are so low that its contribution to the antimicrobial activity of LAB is minimal (Caplice<br />

& Fitzgerald, 1999).<br />

Chapter 1 – Antagonistic micro-organisms for biopreservation of food products 12

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